Process of coking.



P ATENTED MAR. 20, 1906.

G. S. MERRILL. PROCESS 0F GOKING.

Aprmonmn Hama nso,12,19o3.

GEQRGESMEWLL UNITED snrrns PATENT OFFICE.

PROCESS OF COKING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 20, 1906.

Application filed December 12,1903. Serial No. lg.

l'o all whom, i ntay concern:

Beit known that l, GEORGE SPENoEn Msn- RILL, a citizen of the United States, residing and having a post-oilice address at Year-.e Dale, in the county of Washington, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Coking, of which the following is a fullV and true dcscription, reference bein had to the accomanying drawing, whic diagrammaticallv illustrates a vertical section of a plant whic 1 utilizes the features of my new process.

This invention relates to the production of coke from coal, and has lor some of its objects, first, to more speedily and economically produce coke; second, to inerease'the out ut of a plant; third, to produce a better qua ity of co e; fourth, to render the process of colong practically continuous instead of intermittent, as heretofore; fifth, 'to render unnecessary the exclusion vof air from 'the oven, as heretofore practicedysixth, to provide a process which will by reduci therefrom coke practically free om sul r and other undesirable substances enable coal'- beari sulfur to be used for maki coke; sevent to produce a coke of any ssii-ed hardness, especially from coal heretofore un-Y available because of the spongy nature of the coke produced eighth, to separately dravv o5 from a mass undergoinv colnng the richer and the leaner gases; ninth, to subject various ortions of a mass of coal to heat Voi diierent intensities; tenth, vto provide a process in which the gases are continuously drawn from the material undergoing coking.

In its preferred embodiment my new process conslsts in treating the coal in a horizontally-disposed layer having but little depth as comparedwith that of the rior processes and sub'ecting such layer to liest. As a result the layer will be cooked more rapidly, and the released gases, sulfur, Sac., will have to pass upwardly through about twelve inches of coal instead of through six or seven feet, as formerly required, and there will be less opportunity for the sulfur to deposit upon or return to the coke.

In practice in order to revent oxidation it is essential that air shall be excluded as far as ossible from the mass which is being coo ed. Prior to my resent invention this has been accomplishe by hermetically seal ing the retort-oven after charging the same.

\ tinuously by any By my process, hovvever, great care in sealing is unnecessary, one preferred step consistiiu;r in drawing away from the oven under treatment any air which might enter the same.

The preferred embodiment of my process is a continuous method ol coking, consisting in heating a :nass of coal, removing eolie from one portion thereof, and supplying coal to una other portion without interrupting the oo lr ing. This continuous treatment, as hereinafter ointed out, is most advantageously carrie out when the mass of coal is arranged in a horizontal layer, but is applicable also to layers or masses, however disposed, by removing coke from one end of the laver and supplynig coal to the other end, thus keeping the oven always filled, or nearlyrso. To e e feet the discharge and sup ly spoken ofhthe layer of coal may be perio ically or continuously moved or permitted to move, as hereinafter described.`

In the accom anying drawing Ihave shown diagrammatica 1y a vertical section of the parts of a coking plant useful in carrying out my new process in detail.

A indicates an oven of masonry and rovidcd with a plurality of chambers B. T cse will preferab y be rectangular in eross-sec tien and preferably of a gradually-increasing he' ht from the supply end to the discharge en The chambers will reierably be of a greater length than widt the length and Width varying in various ovens according to the output desired. They may be disposed in tiers or side b side or in rows. As shown, the upper chambers may overhang those underneath. Coal will be sup lied ,to one end of each chamber by means ci) troughs C l C3 or other suitable apparatus leadinrom one or more coal-bins C. Any suite le means for supplyin the amount of coal necessary may be emp eyed' but as rough determina4 tions will be found sufficient special valves, weights, cut-o ap aratus, &c., may he dispaused with, and t e plungers D D? D3 may e used as the sole supply-controlling means. Said plungers, which are shown in their advanced position fit in the supply end of the chambers and w1 l tightly move therein. In shape the plungers maybe long metallic shells, each sing; advanced and retracted periodically or consuitable mechanism. For this purpose a shaft provided with a number of eccentrico may be employed. The plungers may be advanced and retracted simultain the drawing, will snugly IIO are downwar( neously or in any desired o rder. The chambers B are of gradually-increasing area from the supply to the discharge end in order to prevent undue packing of the coke while bcmg moved therethrough. When; as shown in the drawin the floors of the chai'iibers ilv inclined, thc discharge of coke will be facilitated.

At the top of each chamber or aitthe sid(` or sides thereof near the top openings E fori leading off the gases communicate with pipes E' E for carrying ofll said products to apparatus for recovering tar, ammonia, In order to heat the cdal iii the chambers B, burning gasin ay be circulated through tile- These are located above and below the horizontally-disposed layer, and 'where a number of superimposed cham-i bers are used a single line of tile-pipe may be located between the bottom of one chamber and the top of another and may be so placed as to contribute heat to one or `both chambers.

H', H2, and H3 are inclined "rates Constituting dischargelatforins, ands rayingdevices, such as per orated pipes J 2 J, are located in position to quench coke resting upon or iassing over the gratos.

a indicates any suitable form of tilting or moving discharge device adapted to be operated automatically by the weight of large quantities of coke or otherwise; For this urpose I contemplate using two or more linge buckets rocking or rotating upon a common shaft, the whole quite closely fitting the masonry of the fioor, so as not to admit any undesirable quantity of air. The discharged coke may directly fall from the grates into the tilting device, or conveyers may be used for this urpose.

It wil be noticed that there are a succession of tile-pipes G', i2, G, G, and G5 under each of the chambers. l have shown iive in the drawing annexed. The heat in pipe G2 may be more intense than iii pipe G', tie heat in pipe G3 more intense than in pipe G2, and so on. As a result the material undergoing coking will be subjected as it is moved through the chamber to heat increasing in intensity, and all of the volatile products or material capable of being driven off as gases will be freed from the coal and led ofi for utilization. In the production of coke some of the gases are driven from the coal at a comparatively low heat, others at a higher heat, and so on. As the heat increases more and more of the volatile ingredients are driven olil from the coke. 4This, it is, obvious, will be eiiccted by the arrangement spoken of.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that by regulating the heat in each of the tile-pipes G', G2, G, and G5 the different gases in the coal can 'be driven olf at the desired points. lt is also obvious that off gases which This may be done with t there is great advantage in having the said tile-pipes transverse to the line of travel of the material being coked and also in having the tile-pipes independent of each other, for the reason that with the transverse and independent tile-pipes the heat at the different points along the coking-chamber can be reguaied at will and can be changed at one point or points and allowed to remain the same at others,

A body of coal undergoing heating gives fraduall y grow leaner or contain less of the by-produets, and this condition is taken advantage of by me in the preferred embodiment of my process, wherein I separate the leaner gases from the rich ases, enabling the latter to be se arately uti ized.

lie form of oven illustrated by me by connecting the openings E and E2 with one or more pipes leading to one place of storage or utilization and b connecting the openin E3 with a pi e lea ing to another point o storage or uti ization of the leaner gases. Draft devices Will preferably be provided for drawing the gases through the various pipes. As stated, the richer gases may be treated for the extraction of tar, etc., or for illuminating. The leaner gases may be used in any way desired-for instance, for heating the first pipe G' of the series.

In carryin out my process chambers or ovens B are illed with coal, or nearl the operations of the plurieers D or ot erwise. In its forced passage through the heated chambers or ovens due to the advancing movements of the piungers, the volatile matter in the coal is released, so that when the coal reaches the end of the oven it is thoroughly coked and is discharged as coke through the mouths b. The pressure exerted by the advancing movements of the plurigers necessary to force. the mass of coal through the ovens can be utilized to compact the coal while being coked, and thus overcome any tendency to produce a soft or spongy coke. The hardness ofthe coke may be determined by` regulatin the pressure thereon while being produced, as by giving the Hoor of the oven a desired incline. Upon retracting the plungers coal is fed from the troughs i into the space left empty b the lunger. Coke discharged from the c amers falls upon the gratos Il', &c., and is quenched by water or steam from the spraypipcs J', &c. The( uenchin of the coke may e commenced wlii e it is sti l in the ovens or be entirely carried on while the discharged coke is on the grate The throwing of water upon the hot coke will result in feat quantities of steam, and to prevent this from passin through the material which is being coke( I provide exhaust- 'mg apparatus, useful also to prevent air entering the ticking-chambers.

Preferably the rear of the oven is entirely s0, by-

IOC

IIO

' products.

inclosed within n. compartment or chamber X, buiit of air-tight masonry and providedV with en exhaust-opening K, cominunieoting with a ipe, and fan K'. The oni? air, therefore, w 'ch may reach the hven Wi i come throu h the tiltin discharge device, and this will drown of? without passing intothe coki1- chambers by means of' the ort K and fan The delivery device L wi l, it is obvious, be operated oni by large quantities of coke and .imlependent y of the discharging operations of the plunges.

My new process has many importent advantages. It is practiceily continuous, both in the production of coke and in the4 discharge of the gases usefui or producing by- It is more speedy than prior proeesses by reason of the fact that the layer of .eoai is of comparativelY smaii depth, thus ermitting` u more rapix und perfect throwing oii of all volatile matter in the coal, and cnnse'qnentl a more rapid, uniform, and thorough en ing of the coal. The oven is not cooied down to effect charging or discharging, und no heet is wasted. A heiter queiity4 nf coke, espeenly fin freedom from sulfur, is prodneg-d. Snpplyfeoking, dischargin quenching, nnd deiiver ere eli convenient y managed. Materiel qnnntitiesof air are excluded nt :di times from oven and from the enke therein. Siemn dueto quenching is `dmn'n oil withont depostngnny undesirable nnilernl. Athin layer ishented in the direction of ils height, und to more qnieky'coko the loyer it is heeled above and imlow. The

' leaner gases are separated from the richer enses. The heat ingof the coke muy he regu- Med in order tu drive nii' more of the volatile prodneist han heretoi we. A serviceable coke muy he produced from wml not now nvniiabic i. 'lheprucess of waking, which comprises the suhjeeling of n'snhstuntinlly horizonisl ioyer of euml to successive degrees of heat,

regninting sind degrees nf heat independentlv of eneh ol her. so that the dilerent gases n1 the coni will be gwen o {i' at determined points,snd collecting seid gases es they are given ofi'.

2. The process of eokiug which comprises. the subecting of a substantially horizontai layer o coal to suecessive degrees of heat, regulating seid degrees of heet inde 'endentiy of each other, so that the di crept 5 5' gases in the eoei wiii be given oii at' deter# mined points, sub'ectng said layer to eeprey of gweter, and withdrawing by suctionthe steam so generated.

-3. The process of ooking the subjectin of a. moving layer o coal -whichis at e points of its travel inclosed from contact with the atmosphere to succes- Y sive de ees of heat, drawing o the gases in the or er in which they are produced,sub 65 jectin'gthe moving layer to a spray of water -and removing by suction the steam so generated and any airwhioh may be present, sub` stantialiy es described.

4. The process of eokng closing n. horizontal moving layer of heete1i oai, withdrawing et determinedV pieeesfthe gases as they are given off, and withtrs. l at a di'erent piece hy suction an A airwhc maygein eeess to suidiincioseg stantiaiiy as described. Y 5. The process of eoking-which'eomprises; y

the subeotingof 'a moving layer of'coel' to laiingsaid'fdegrees of heat independently o 'each other,"`3o I Aso that the different gases in the coiilwiihe successive degrees of heat and re given olf :it determined points.

. Y 6. The process of eoking whiehboinprises the sugjecung of a moving massof egual to successive degrees ofhcat, reguiiit'ing said 11e-85 i which i rises 6o which oonsists in 31eA 

